After a long break for the holidays, we started another agility course today. Heidi and Rush were supposed to join us, ahem, but somebody needs to check their email more often. LOL
It took Miss Lou a little while to settle down…at the beginning of the class she was SO excited to be there that she had no idea what I wanted her to do. Those of you who have met Lizzie I know are saying, really? Excited, exuberant, bouncy…Lizzie?? But indeed she was. After she settled down we had a good hour of practice doing all the things we learned in the last set of classes. And surprisingly, knock on wood, she has no problem with the teeter so far. I’ve been very impressed with her boldness, because traditionally she’s not a brave dog. Not a true chicken, no, but not brave or opinionated either.
My biggest complaint at the moment is that the assistant instructor that has been working with us (the “small dogs” in the class) seems to only think of one way to train. When I suggest something different for my dog, she seems offended that I’m questioning what she tells us to do. Sigh. No, I don’t want to train two-on-two-off, I prefer running contacts. I’ll take the random chance that she might occasionally miss a contact, but I think it will be one in a thousand LOL. No, I don’t like to train my dog to run all the way to the end of the teeter and stop. Especially not a softer dog that doesn’t have high drive, because she may not get back on it if she gets bounced off. I really like the main instructor, but we don’t usually have her with our group. Oh well, at least I know what I’d like to do, as opposed to someone brand new, and am not afraid to speak up. Even if it does annoy or offend her. 
#1 by Kristine on January 12, 2009 - 3:34 am
I’m always amazed at how many trainers have a very narrow view of the ways things ‘need’ to be trained and don’t seem to want to even discuss options. My guess is that they are well versed in one method of training (i.e. two-on, two-off) and may not know how to train alternative methods.
I too am not afraid to speak up anymore about what I will or won’t do with my dog. I know her better than any instructor ever will (no matter how many classes I go to) and that’s ultimately the most important training tool around.
#2 by solsticekennels on January 12, 2009 - 4:06 am
Smart mouth LOL!
#3 by penni on January 12, 2009 - 5:28 am
The agility trainers at our local club are very concerned about asking the long backed dogs to do two on/two off AND have noted that because they are long, they seldom miss the contact anyway. So we train the cardis, doxies, etc. to do running contacts with no stop, and just an “easy” on the teeter at the balance point to remind them that it’s going to tip. It works better for them. Even Inca, who is not a border collie wanna be, is an agility fanatic.
#4 by Traci on January 12, 2009 - 1:51 pm
We were taught two on/two off in the intro to agility class we took, but now in foundations, we were asked what we’d rather do. I hope you are able to get your trainer to understand your reasons….
And yes…. Lizzie? bouncy?? WHA?!
I wish I could have seen it!! 
Glad she’s having a great time!!!
#5 by Janet on January 12, 2009 - 2:59 pm
I was always taught that the long backed dogs don’t do 2 on 2 off. Maybe your instructor missed that day at agility instructor school!
#6 by manymuddypaws on January 13, 2009 - 2:24 pm
it really depends on the dog- I teach 2on2off to my own dogs, but in classes we talk about choices, and the pros and cons of both. In the end we leave it to the handler to decide. Good for you for sticking up for your dog!!!
#7 by Shades of Gray on January 14, 2009 - 1:44 pm
Ah-hum, I missed you at agility class last night.
)
#8 by Dina on January 14, 2009 - 2:32 pm
I noticed you said the ’small’ dogs in the class. It took a while but my agility instructor finally realized Sam wasn’t a ’small’ dog when she held him for me one day. He was practically on her lap and she said, “He’s as big as my Aussies!” After that, I never heard another ’small’ dog comment.